It’s official, Christmas is days away and it’s time to make the most of the holiday cheer. You may have put your tree up before Thanksgiving this year, but there are still many ways you can fully enjoy all of the magic and wonder this holiday has to offer. In fact, we’ll give you 12! Spend the coming weeks indulging in sweets, snuggles, and winter delight as you countdown to Christmas Day.
1.Create a Winter Tablescape
Bring a cozy winter feel to your dining room or kitchen table with a festive tablescape. You can make your table feel as sophisticated or comfy as you’d like. Stick to traditional colors of green and red or silver and gold by arranging ornaments beside lush garland that drapes across your table. Grab some buffalo plaid fabric and wooden elements for a more casual look. Set out an array of dishes that match your theme and don’t forget the candles! Whether your table is simple or elegant, a wintery tablescape will draw everyone to gather around the table.2. Don’t Trash Tree Trimmings
If you have a real Christmas tree, make sure you keep any branches that fall or need trimming when you place it in your home. You can use the trimmings to up your gift wrapping game by creating a tiny Christmas tree on kraft paper, or pair the sprig with a pinecone and white yarn against dramatic black wrapping paper. Tree trimmings can also be used to add a festive touch to the bathroom counter, mantle, or kitchen table. If you have an artificial tree in your home, stop by a hardware store or neighborhood market and ask if you can collect fallen or cut Christmas tree branches.
3. Wrap Gifts with Your Kids
Make gift-wrapping a family affair this year! Gather everyone around the fireplace and after you’ve wrapped gifts in brown or white paper, pass them off to your kids. Let them stamp Christmas trees or other holiday symbols onto the paper for unique packaging that everyone will love!
4. Bake Christmas Cookies
Start a new tradition by making Christmas cut-out sugar cookies or gingerbread men and gather everyone around the kitchen table to decorate them together. These red velvet crinkle cookies just look like Christmas and they taste amazing. Feeling creative? Enjoy decorating these mini hot chocolate brownie cookies. Or stick with a simple classic and help Santa enjoy his glass of cold milk with chocolate chip cookie dippers. ‘Tis the season to eat cookies, so why not try them all?
5. Play Christmas Music
Fill your home with sounds of Christmas to amp up the holiday spirit. You can find the perfect playlist to match your mood on music streaming platforms like Spotify and Pandora. Even YouTube has hour-long playlist options to use as background music for Christmas parties, weeknight dinners, or holiday baking. Piano or acoustic Christmas music is perfect for peaceful vibes. Or you can choose a playlist that highlights classic carols or dance-worthy pop songs.
6. Turn off the Lights
Nothing says cozy like fires and candles. In the evenings, turn off lamps and overhead lights and let the flames dancing in the fireplace light your living room. Add small twinkle lights to the garland on your mantle and enjoy the winter night watching ornaments sparkle from lights on your tree. Make dinner feel special—whether it’s a Christmas feast or leftover spaghetti—when you eat by candlelight.
7. Watch a Christmas Movie (or 20)
Buddy the Elf claims that “the best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.” He might be right, but watching a Christmas movie, tucked under a plush blanket can also do the trick. Many of your favorite classic Christmas movies like Miracle on 34th Street, The Santa Claus, Home Alone, and White Christmas can be found on Disney+. Netflix offers many Christmas originals that have a Hallmark feel, as well as Dr. Suess’ The Grinch that is fun for the whole family.
8. Snag those Stocking Stuffers
Gifts are wrapped and placed under the tree, but don’t forget the stocking stuffers! Next time you’re at the store, pick up your loved one’s favorite candy bar, or get creative and hide the perfect little gift at the bottom of the stocking. Young children might enjoy this set of bath pipes to make bath time fun while keeping the water inside the tub! Is there someone in your household who can never remember where they’ve left their keys? A Tile Mate might be best for them. Or a hydrating face mask for the one who loves skincare products or needs a good excuse to rest. The teenager in your house might enjoy a cord organizer to keep his headphones from getting tangled in his backpack. Give a chapstick holder keychain to your new driver with her favorite lip balm.
9. Look at Christmas Lights
Grab a hot chocolate and load everyone into the car. Driving through neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights is a quintessential Christmas tradition. And of course, plan an evening when you and your family can drive through the incredible light display at Santa’s Wonderland. It doesn’t matter if you experience the lights by a carriage or hayride, this Christmas experience is magical for all ages!
10. Try a Festive Beverage
Take your hot chocolate game to the next level by adding bourbon, caramel, and cinnamon to make a delicious Spiced Mexican Hot Chocolate. Need a simple citrus beverage that looks like Christmas in a cup? Try this Holly Jolly Citrus Cocktail with a splash of ginger beer for a little fizz. If you like peppermint, this drink is for you! Peppermint Bark Mimosas are so light and cheery and you can’t pass them up. Stir up this Cranberry Apple Cider Punch for a mocktail full of traditional Christmas flavors everyone will love.
11. Make-Ahead Treats
Making delicious treats for a small Christmas gathering or delivering desserts to neighbors and friends? Try making white chocolate peppermint bark that is festive and delicious. The best part is, you can make it early in the week and it will still taste delicious when it’s delivered days later. Oreo truffles are another simple make-ahead dessert that’s always a crowd-pleaser! You can decorate these truffles with different colored sprinkles or dye white chocolate a bright red or green to add a festive flair. Need a Christmassy snack that you can throw together during naptime? Reindeer chow adds variety to your dessert table and is the perfect thing to munch on while you watch a Christmas movie.
12. Display Your Christmas Cards
Rather than crowding your refrigerator, opt to display holiday cards in a fun way. Arrange them on a wall in your family room or kitchen so that it is shaped like a Christmas tree. You can even place a basket underneath the “tree” to store a few presents or collect incoming gifts.
May your days leading up to Christmas be filled with joy as you make new traditions, carry on old ones, and spend time together. From our Inhabit Real Estate Family to yours, Merry Christmas!
